Karaouine Mosque And University
Fes • Morocco

Karaouine Mosque and University, Fes, MoroccoThe Karaouine Mosque was founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri who when her father Mohammed Al-Fihri who was a wealthy merchant died she pledged to use her inheritance to build the community a mosque.

The mosque quickly grew as both a place of worship and a place of study with the Al Karaouine University now recognized as the oldest existing university in the world.

The mosque has the capacity to support 20,000 worshipers and features several white arches and columns with decorative plasterwork, wood carvings, tiles and courtyards.

Travel Attraction GuideThe mosque is only open to Muslims and can be found in the old area of Fes, it is worth hiring a guide as the narrow streets number several and its easy to get lost.

Travel There
The Gare Routiere Principale station is 2 miles away from the mosque and university and there is no transport permitted within the old part of the city.

Nearby Tourist Attraction
The Zaoula de Moulay Idriss is about 100 meters to the east of the building.